2.42 births per woman worldwide

I was looking at birth rates in the U.S. and around the world. For example, the highest U.S. birthrate was in 1957 when unemployment was around 4.5%. But we don't ever get to that level of unemployment much since then (if ever). The reason for this is as the number of people on earth increases the amount of tillable land and potable water does not. Potable water is finite and so is tillable land. Then on top of this soil is degrading in most countries around the world from chemical fertilizers and from the feces of cattle, goats and sheep and other farm animals(animals don't use toilets). So, chemical fertilizers and farm animal waste tends to harm environments various places. Though farm animal feces might make some crops grow better, often what happens instead is that it washes into water tables and creates more protozoa like Giardia in water supplies (even wells) around the world instead to the point where even in the water supplies of most all cities in the U.S.  cryptosporidium infects water supplies and is not killed by Clorine or Fluoridation in city water supplies at least 1 month per year or more. This can kill someone with a compromised immune system especially someone that is HIV or with AIDS.

Cryptosporidium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptosporidium‎

Cryptosporidium is a genus of protozoans that can cause gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea in humans. Cryptosporidium is the organism most commonly ...

‎Cryptosporidiosis - ‎Cryptosporidium parvum - ‎Cryptosporidium hominis

CDC - Cryptosporidium

www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/‎

Jan 16, 2013 – Education and information about Crypto, Cryptosporidium Infection, Cryptosporidiosis, fact sheets, information for special groups, prevention ...

‎Treatment - ‎General Information - ‎Prevention & Control - ‎Infection - General Public

 

So, birth rates continue to decline worldwide:

World historical and predicted crude birth rates (1950–2050)
UN, medium variant, 2008 rev.^[7]

Years	CBR	Years	CBR
1950–1955	37.2	2000–2005	21.2
1955–1960	35.3	2005–2010	20.3
1960–1965	34.9	2010–2015	19.4
1965–1970	33.4	2015–2020	18.2
1970–1975	30.8	2020–2025	16.9
1975–1980	28.4	2025–2030	15.8
1980–1985	27.9	2030–2035	15.0
1985–1990	27.3	2035–2040	14.5
1990–1995	24.7	2040–2045	14.0
1995–2000	22.5	2045–2050	13.4

In 2012 the average global birth rate was 19.15 births per 1,000 total population,^[8] compared to 20.09 per 1,000 total population in 2007.^[9]

Contents 1 Political issues 2 National birth rates 2.1 United States 3 Measurement methods 4 Factors affecting birth rate 5 Demographic transition 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links

Political issues

The birth rate is an issue of concern and policy for national governments. Some (including those of Italy and Malaysia) seek to increase the birth rate with financial incentives or provision of support services to new mothers. Conversely, other countries have policies to reduce the birth rate (for example, China's one-child policy).  end quote from wikipedia under the heading: "Birth Rate".

So, when you look at this you realize that the birth rate in general likely will continue to decrease around the world. I have spoken to people in different countries and in general the birth rate is going down all over the world.

Why is this?

The reason is it is too expensive to raise children right now. So, unless people have a good enough job and a secure enough environment and a really good marriage, people tend to choose birth control over having children. So, my guess is that the birth rates worldwide will continue to go down as long as Unemployment for people under 30 years of age stays at around 50% worldwide like it is now.